Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-12-14


crowded condition. The Superintendent re-
ports that "the increase of insanity among
the colored race is amazing" and he fears
that sin two years there will be from 100
to 200 colored insane unprOvided for.
There seems to have been most inJudi-
cious use made of the $500, 900 appropriated
for the erection of the main building to the
Asylum. In statement er1bodying the re-
suit of recent examination of the building
made by competent architect, at the re-
quest of the President Of the Board OF Di-
rectors its condition and manner of construc-
ton is fully set forth, and the fact disclosed
that the State is not in possession OF such
building as her liberal appropriation for it
would seem to justify. The foundation
walls in many places are cracked already,
aud the bricks are of snch inferior make and
material that they are being crushed by the
| weight above.
AGRICULTURE.
| There is no question which can be brought
before the Legislature of more Importance
| to Virginia than the promotion of her agri-
cultural interests.
| It has been we'll said that plea for the
farmers is plea for the State, and the great
number of our citizens who are engaged in
providing for themselves and their families
! a support from the soil, should incl inc their
representatives to the passage OF all laws
which will advance the interests of the
farmers. The whole State will at once feel
any vigorous increase in its agricultural
prosperity.
/ The career for stockraising and sheep
farming in the future is broad, but the
development of the small industries aud
grain growing has not been attended in
some parts of the State with gratifying re-
suits.
The present faithful and efficient Com
missioner of Agriculture is diligently striv-
ing to bring about better condition of
things il his department, but the means of
accomplishing this end are very limited.
recommend an increased appropriation
for the Department of Agriculture. to be
provided for either by a tag upon fertiliSers
or in such other way as the General AS
sembly may determine to be best. | would
also recommend that the Commissioner of
Agriculture be made a member &C. o1fcio of
the Board of Visitors of the Virginia Agri-
cultural and Mechanical College at Blacks
burg, and bear the same relation to that
college as the Adjutant General will do to
sthe Virginia Military Institute after the LIST
of January next. | would also recon
mend, in this connection, that a bureau of
immigration, labor and statistics be estab-
lished as part of the Department of Agri-
culture; for the Commissioner of Agricul-
ture we'll says: "An active bureau of i'm
migration on enlisting the cooperation of
railroad authorities and all organizations
having for their object the introduction of
immigrants into Virginia, can do much for
promoting the settlement Of her waste
lands, fostering manufactures and creating
mark ts."
I STATE PENITENTIARY.
The State penitentiarY, under the man
ageuient of its Board of Directors and its
capable lperintendent, serves well its pur-
poses. Tue plumber of conviets on the list
of this month was 900, 100 being white and
T70 colored; or 1855 white males, FOG color
ed males, white females and a. colored
females; a0T of them are in prison, 115 on
the South Atlantic and Ohio railroad, and
SO in Russell county.
Thsre has not been much demand for the
convicts to work the public roads of the
Commonwealth under laws already passed
App ications arc gov aud then made for
| tbem to work the railroads, but in oonse-
quence Of such projected roads not being
completed, and for other reasons, IN many
cases such applications are not further in
sisted upon.
In this connection have the honor to re.
commend that reformatory or industrial
school be established, either separate and
detached from the penitentiary or in cou-
neetion herewith, where youthful criminals
can be confined without coming into con-
tact with the older ard more hardened
class of offenders. There should be wide
discrimination in the treatment of boy
convicted perhaps of his first offence against
the law and a man who has prohed to the
Enf+ ~ ax -f rf,
ment of criminal youths should have re-
formatory as well as punitive object, but
it is impossible to put into practice reform.
atory measures where two elasses Of Grim.
inals come into daily contact with each
other. Ia the penitentiary at this time there
are 1877 criminals under the age Of twenty
one years.
/ | would also recommend that law be
passed placing in this reformatory school all
criminals under eighteen years of age and
that the Governor be empowered to transfer
from the penitentiary to that .reformatory
school any other between the age of eigh-
teen AND tyenty=ano where hOpais held Gut
that such indulgence would not be misused
and there was a reasonable hope of recla
nation.
A system of this sort has worked satisfac
torily in several of the States. During Gov.
Hoadly's administration in Ohio, of eighty
boys thus released from the penitentiary
and transferred to the reformaJory school,
enc became insane, sir went hack to crime,
and seventy-three proved worthy of the
indulgence grsuted them. To reclaim from
la life of crime even one young soul would
be satisfactory work,
| With the growing population of the State
the number of criminals increases and an
o. nj ont Off ho &c
already demanded. By the proposed sepa-
rate arrangement for youthful criminals ad-
iaiticnsl room you'd be gained for the other
classes OF malefaotors.
| have the honor also to recommend that
a system of monthly inspection of all jais
in the State be made by the Common
wealth's Attorney. or such local officer as
the judge of the city or county in which
said Jail may be located shall designate. aud
written report be made to such Judge
after Q ch inspection, and such report be
spread upon the records.
+! The Penal and charitable institutions OF
the State will he inspected by thu Governor
or some officer designated by him as often
as be may think proper and practicable.
have already personally inspected most of
these institutions, aud found their condition
10 every respect most creditable to their
management.
VOLUNTEER TROOPS.
SINCE the 1st of January last the following
volunteer troops have been called out by the
civil authorities to assist their officers in
preserving the peace in their respective To-
calities, namely: On January 18th compa-
MES A and B, First regiment, under COM
mand of Maj. Bidgood, and the State Guard
of colored troops, the whole being under the